At the close of market yesterday, the worth of the 156 million dollars Mr. Peter Obi saved for Anambra State in dollars by way of foreign bonds was 183 billion Naira.
His media aide Valentine Obianyem while giving me this information asked rhetorically: “You see why all lovers of good governance will not cease praising the man. He did this at a time his colleagues were leaving behind all manner of liabilities: debts, unpaid salaries/gratuities and unpaid executed contracts.
“Should we stop praising the man?
“Should we cease using him as an example to be emulated by those in power?
“Should we sustain commending him or condemning him?
“Or should we, as some people do, view the mentioning of this happy news as an anathema to the state?” Obienyem concluded.
The former governor of Anambra State has disagreed with the notion that said Nigerian states are incapable of paying salaries, insisting that with prudence and prioritizing, state could pay salaries and engage in other developmental activities.
Obi was speaking in January this year at the 17th Annual Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement at the Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu.
Obi, who bagged the ‘Best Governor Ever,’ award said that those in government spent a lot of money on things that were not necessary, while running out of money for projects that would enrich the people.
ABOVE PHOTO: The former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi( right), receiving from Dr. Alex Ekwueme (left), the Igbo Youth Movement ‘Best Governor Ever’ award, at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu.
Using himself as an example, Obi said that when he was the governor, that he did not keep guest houses, charter planes, travel with more people than necessary, fly Business Class or use bullet proof vehicles, among others.